Radiation Therapy With or Without Goserelin and Cyproterone in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the ability of adjuvant hormone therapy with an LHRH agonist (Goserelin depot) to produce an increased disease-free survival and to prolong overall survival when initiated during the first week of radiotherapy in prostatic cancer patients with a high risk of developing metastatic disease.

OUTLINE: Randomized study. Arm I: Radiotherapy. Whole-pelvic irradiation using photons with a recommended energy of at least 10 MV (Co60 therapy is acceptable if higher energy unavailable). Arm II: Radiotherapy plus 2-Drug Combination Hormonal Therapy. Whole-pelvic irradiation as in Arm I; plus Goserelin, ZDX, NSC-606864; Cyproterone acetate, CPTR, NSC-81430.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: 400 patients will be entered over 5 years. At least 75 patients on each arm should be followed until relapse.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven prostatic adenocarcinoma of the following TNM stages and WHO grades: T1 or T2 and grade G3 T3 or T4 and any histologic grade No evidence of distant metastases No evidence of positive common iliac or para-aortic lymph nodes Confirmed by bone scan, chest x-ray, negative ultrasound or CT of the liver, and CT of the retroperitoneum and/or bipedal lymphangiography Extraperitoneal pelvic lymph node biopsy may be either positive or negative provided stage and grade criteria are met

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 80 Performance status: WHO 0-2 Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No history of second malignancy except basal cell skin carcinoma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer Endocrine therapy: No prior hormonal therapy for prostate cancer Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy for prostate cancer Surgery: No prior radical prostatectomy No prior transperitoneal lymph node staging